Chuck Salituro criticizes ESPN coverage of Los Angeles Clippers salary scandal

Former ESPN executive Chuck Salituro recently criticized reporter Don Van Natta Jr. over an August 17 ESPN report regarding the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard. The original article stated the NBA found no evidence of salary cap circumvention, a claim contradicted by the league's September 2 announcement of formal sanctions. The NBA penalized the Clippers with a $30 million fine and the forfeiture of five first-round draft picks from 2029 through 2033. Owner Steve Ballmer and team personnel also received suspensions for the violations, while Kawhi Leonard was fined $700,000. Van Natta Jr. defended the initial reporting as an accurate reflection of the investigation's status at the time of publication, though Salituro characterized the work as premature and misleading.

• 4:36 AMYahoo Sports — ‘I Wish He Would Have Taken More Responsibility’ — Don Van Natta Jr. Called Out by Ex-ESPN Colleague for ‘Misleading’ Clippers Report